NHL roundup: Flyers soar past Canucks 2-0, Wild whip Canadiens 5-2

Oct 17, 2023 | 7:17 PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sean Couturier scored on a penalty shot for his first goal in nearly two years, Carter Hart made 25 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 in their home opener Tuesday night.

After being taken down by Elias Pettersson, Couturier beat Thatcher Demko on the penalty shot to make it 2-0 with 2:37 remaining in the first period. Couturier approached the goal from the right with his back to Demko, then spun to his forehand for a snapper that went in off the far post.

Couturier scored for the first time since Dec. 10, 2021. He was sidelined for the second half of the 2021-22 season and all of last season because of a back injury.

Rookie defenceman Egor Zamula opened the scoring with his first NHL goal, beating Demko to the glove side 1:45 into the game.

The Canucks lost for the first time after sweeping an opening home-and-home set with the Edmonton Oilers.

Hart had his first shutout of the season and sixth in the NHL.

Elsewhere in the NHL on Tuesday:

WILD 5 CANADIENS 2

MONTREAL (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek had two power-play goals and added an assist to help Minnesota beat Montreal.

Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and assisted on both of Eriksson Ek’s goals, while Brandon Duhaime and Connor Dewar staked the Wild to a 2-0 lead.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for the victory in his hometown. Mats Zuccarello had three assists.

Tanner Pearson and Alex Newhook scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault made 30 saves.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Associated Press